The family of a young drummer has spoken out after the musician was publicly shamed by Blink-182 star, Travis Barker, for sending "super creepy" texts to Barker's underage daughter.
Echosmith drummer Graham Sierota, 20, was slammed last week for sending private messages to Barker's 13-year-old daughter, Alabama, inviting the minor to his BBQ and calling her "beautiful".
"You understand I'm a child?" Alabama responded, before posting screenshots of the exchange on her Instagram story.
The screengrabs appear to show Sierota's attempts to contact her from as far back as 2016 - when she was just a 10-year-old.
Her father, Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, 43, called the messages "predatory behaviour" in an interview with The Blast.
"There is nothing cool, normal or okay about it at all," he said.
Sierota issued a public apology following the backlash, claiming he didn't know Alabama was underage and felt "very badly" about his actions.
"I assumed she was my age. I made a careless mistake and this is a big lesson for me," he said in a statement.
Sierota's family has now responded to the allegations of predatory behaviour, revealing the 20-year-old is autistic and struggles to understand social cues.
"Given the events of the last few days, we feel compelled to speak out to offer some additional context and insight into the unfortunate misunderstandings that occurred, and clear up the deeply hurtful mischaracterization of Graham," his family said in a statement.
"He sees the world as the happiest place, where everyone is a potential friend, and he wants everyone to feel included.
"He is the friendliest and most kind-hearted, welcoming person in the world."
Alabama Barker has since told her Instagram followers that she accepts Sierota's apology, saying she would "like for this all to be over".
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